Sunday was Mother’s Day in quite a few countries (including Canada, where I live). It is a day to celebrate moms and all they do for us, give them a card or gift, and generally express love to your mother.

My mama is pretty awesome. She is the most generous person I know and is always wanting to bless other people with whatever they might need or want. She is lovely. If you are lucky enough to know her, I’m sure you know what I mean.

Thankfully, my mama isn’t like a lot of the moms in books. You never quite know what you’ll get in a mom in a book, especially in a YA book. Here are a few of the moms that came to mind when I thought about the best and worst moms in books that I’ve read.

Molly and Cassie’s moms are each unique women, but they parent in a really cool way. They are a team, but recognize which of them is best suited for what their kids need at any certain time. And they are fun, and sweet, and encouraging.

Laila did what she needed to do to protect her children. She had to make horrid choices, but she did what needed to be done so that her children could live. She sacrificed her own happiness for them. And she still managed to bring joy into their household.

Worst Moms in Books

First off, naming your child Willowdean is bad enough. But then to nickname her Dumplin’ because she isn’t a teeny tiny little stick girl – hooo boy. And then, once she’s already super conscious that she’s a disappointment to you, to run your beauty pageant and actually tell your child that she’s not good enough or pretty enough for it. Will’s mom made me so mad. But Will’s amazing heart and love for herself totally outshine her mom and show that even a crappy parent can–somehow–raise a really awesome kid.

Crazy mom desperate for her daughters to get married? Check. So focused on herself that she completely misunderstands her own family? Check. Has no respect for other people unless they are rich or able to benefit her? Check. No understanding of how the world actually works? Check. Completely blind to her own faults? Check. Blatant favouritism of one child over the others? Check.

Libby Lomax’s mom in the Libby Lomax Series (A Night in with Audrey Hepburn, A Night in with Marilyn Monroe, A Night in with Grace Kelly)

Forgive me, I can’t for the life of me remember Libby’s mom’s name. Only that she is, like other moms on this list, completely self-absorbed, with no consideration or thought for anyone else, except for her favourite daughter, Cass. What is it with bad book moms being obsessed with beauty (their own and/or their daughter’s), wealth, bagging a rich man for their daughter to marry, and blatant favouritism of one child over the others? Every time Libby’s mom comes up in these books I cringe. She is a menace – and a really stupid one at that. Entertaining yes, but also incredibly frustrating.